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- Title
Patients' feedback on the Changi General Hospital tinnitus counselling protocol.
- Authors
Bee Hong Lim, Joyce Jeanne; Ku Sun Lu, Peter; Soo Quee Koh, David; Lim, Joyce Jeanne Bee Hong; Lu, Peter Ku Sun; Koh, David Soo Quee
- Abstract
<bold>Introduction: </bold>Many tinnitus service providers advocate counselling as an initial and important approach for the management of tinnitus. Our tinnitus counselling clinic (TCC) developed a counselling protocol to deliver information and educate patients on self-help strategies. We aimed to obtain feedback on the components of the initial session and the self-help choices made by patients who returned for follow-up.<bold>Methods: </bold>All patients who were attending the TCC completed a Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaire during their first and follow-up sessions. At follow-up, patients were asked to rate how helpful each counselling component was and their choice of self-help strategy for tinnitus.<bold>Results: </bold>203 patients attended the follow-up session, representing 60.1% of patients initially counselled. THI scores improved, with 45.8% more patients categorised as having no handicap at follow-up compared to the initial 26.1%. Two most helpful counselling components (rated on a 5-point scale) were explanation of self-help strategies (mean score 4.40 ± 0.68) and illustration of healthy and damaged hair cells (mean score 4.30 ± 0.74). The most popular choice for self-help was using a sound strategy plus change in thinking (41.9%, n = 85). A few (32.5%, n = 66) patients were able to change their perception of tinnitus without any sound enrichment, while 17 (8.4%) patients relied solely on sound strategy. Most (97.5%) patients found the initial counselling session helpful. However, 92 (45.3%) patients were still seeking a cure for their tinnitus.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>Most patients found the counselling helpful at follow-up. Counselling offered them the opportunity to actively manage their tinnitus.
- Subjects
HAIR cells; COUNSELING; TINNITUS; HOSPITALS
- Publication
Singapore Medical Journal, 2019, Vol 60, Issue 12, p637
- ISSN
0037-5675
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.11622/smedj.2019066